Michael Vilardo Season 2015

2015 Season
Academic All-Big Ten... Vilardo played in 35 games and started 32 times, primarily in left field... started the season opener at second base before moving to left field; also made two starts at designated hitter... started and batted leadoff in each of the first 21 games of the season... also started all three games of the Illinois series and at least one game of the Michigan and Michigan State series... started the season red hot, batting .373 after posting a three-hit game in the series-opening win at Oklahoma March 6... also recorded three-hit game in the finale of the Western Carolina series... delivered a three-run double in the rubber game of the Oklahoma series and had three RBI in the season opener at WCU... homered at Ball State... had two in the series opener at Illinois... walked three times and scored twice in the April 15 win vs. IPFW... hit safely in all four games of the Phoenix Muni Classic, finishing the weekend 7-for-17 thanks to three multi-hit games. Individual Game-by-Game Stats

Previous College
Vilardo played at the University of Pennsylvania his first two collegiate seasons (2013-14), transferring to Purdue for the start of the 2015 spring semester after earning his bachelor's degree at Penn... granted a waiver by the NCAA to make him eligible immediately for the 2015 season as a graduate transfer... Second Team All-Ivy League second baseman batted .304 with 17 extra-base hits and 23 RBI while starting 40 games as a sophomore... was also named First Team All-Ivy at second base by College Sports Madness in 2014... Big 5 Rookie of the Year and First Team All-Big 5 second baseman as a freshman after batting .320 with 19 doubles and 31 RBI... led the Ivy League with 55 hits as a freshman... ranked among the Top 50 nationally in doubles per game both years... graduated with a 3.4 GPA while earning a bachelor's degree in philosophy, politics, & economics. Complete Penn Bio

High School
He was a three-year letterwinner in baseball for coach Don Sutherland at Cary-Grove High School in suburban Chicago... First Team All-State honoree by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association and Prep Baseball Report as a senior... moved to Ann Arbor during his junior year to play for the Team USA U18 hockey team in 2009-10... Northwest Herald Baseball Player of the Year, Hockey Player of the Year and Athlete of the Year in 2011... batted .436 with 15 home runs, 57 RBI and 30 stolen bases as a senior... finished his career with a school-record 21 home runs after hitting a CGHS & McHenry County-record 15 as a senior... Daily Herald and Northwest Herald All-Area performer batted .351 with 6 home runs and 34 RBI as a junior... recorded 73 goals and 43 assists in 28 games as a senior on the ice to win Hockey Stop's Illinois Player of the Year award as a senior... ranked No. 1 in his class academically at CGHS before six-month move to Ann Arbor, where he attended Pioneer High School... high honor roll student in every semester of high school... earned an associate's degree in general education at McHenry County College before enrolling at Penn.

Personal
Full name is Michael Thomas Vilardo... Born in Geneva, Ill.... parents are Dee and Tom Vilardo... family also includes younger brother Daniel... father played baseball at Southeastern Illinois College... currently a graduate student majoring in management.

Favorite Pro Team: New York Yankees
Favorite Ball Player: Derek Jeter
Favorite Pro Stadium: Fenway Park
Favorite Field He's Played On (Other Than Purdue): Wrigley Field
Most Unique Baseball Feat He's Witnessed: Losing Out on a Home Run When His Teammate on First Base Overlapped Him While Going Back to Tag Up (at Penn in 2014)
Favorite Playoff Format: NCAA Tournament
Toughest Pitcher for Him to Face Among Teammates: Pat Kenney
Current MLB Pitcher He'd Most Like to Face: Jose Fernandez
Person He'd Like to Have Dinner With: Wilt Chamberlain
In His MP3 Player: Rick Ross
Last Concert He Attended: Lollapalooza 2014
Favorite Author: J.K. Rowling
Last Book He Read: Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
Favorite Actor, Actress & Director: Denzel Washington, Mila Kunis & Martin Scorsese
Favorite Movie to Watch on Team Bus: Friday Night Lights
Favorite Month: October
Favorite Holiday: Halloween
Favorite Meal: Turkey Tenderloin with Mashed Potatoes & Grilled Broccoli
Favorite Dessert: Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream
Favorite Purdue Building: Mackey Arena
Favorite Big City: Chicago
Unique Travel Locale: Slovakia
Country He'd Like to Visit: Spain
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Skiing
Another Sport He Enjoys Playing: Ice Hockey
Favorite Thing About Alexander Field: The Huge Gaps for Doubles/Triples
Furry Friends: Simba & Koda, Orange Tabby Cats